Chow Mein Ramen Noodles is the FASTER way to make Chow Mein using a couple of cheeky shortcuts: pre shredded Coleslaw mix and instant ramen noodles. It’s the fastest of fast foods – a 12 minute recipe, including preparation!
Make ramen noodles better – faster!
Next time you’ve had a long day at work and you have to deal with the question that billions of people around the world face every day what’s for dinner??, here’s your answer: Chow Mein Ramen Noodles.
It’s everything you know and love about Chow Mein, except it’s faster to make:
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12 minute recipe including prep
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one pan cooking
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simple, magic 5 ingredient Chow Mein Sauce
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veggie loaded – but you don’t even know it! This has half your daily recommended 5 serves of veg a day.
Handy shortcuts for this recipe
This is not one of those super quick dinner recipes like Jamie Olive 15 Minute Meals style where it’s a whirlwind of manic activity with food flying everywhere, the oven and stove going at the same time, mixing with one hand while flipping steaks with the other, then after all that you’ve got 45 minutes of clean up.
Nope.
This is an easy breezy 12 minute recipe, and here are the handy shortcuts I use:
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instant ramen or any other instant noodles cooked in the same skillet;
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store bought Coleslaw mix – shredded cabbage and carrots – rip the packet open and tip it in!
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5 ingredient Chow Mein Sauce that doesn’t require cornflour/cornstarch for thickening (the starch from the ramen noodles thickens it)
Toss the ramen seasoning packs – we make our own sauce!
Any ramen or instant noodles!
This Chow Mein Ramen Noodles is the latest in a line up of “how to make ramen noodles better” series I started earlier this year (listed at bottom of post!). So I’m pretty sure I’ve made this recipe with every brand of instant ramen and instant noodles I’ve been able to get my hands on – and it works every time.
I have a theory that this recipe is impossible to stuff up because ramen noodles are MADE to be so foolproof that even inebriated college students can boil up some up after a late night out at the pub!?
What Chow Mein Ramen Noodles tastes like
In terms of flavour, it tastes just like “real” Chow Mein. In fact, I recommend in my Chow Mein recipe to use ramen noodles if you can’t find Chow Mein noodles!
The main difference in the eating experience is the texture of the noodles themselves. While they are the same thickness, ramen noodles have a more slippery texture and are white, whereas Chow Mein noodles are yellow. But there’s no difference in the flavour of the noodles!
Faster and healthier than take out
This really is a “faster than take out” recipe for anyone.
Even if you’re one of those people who like to swan around the kitchen sipping a glass of wine, chatting on the phone to your friend with half an eye on the TV so you don’t miss a second of Real Housewives, rummaging around in your pantry to dig out sauces, dragging a chair over to reach up high into the back of the cupboard for that packet of ramen noodles you know is buried there somewhere.
Yes, even if that’s you, you will have this Chow Mein Ramen Noodles on the table, ready to eat, faster than ordering take out (or Uber Eats?). – Nagi x
More Next-Level Ramen Noodles!
Toss the seasoning packet! Be amazed what you can make with a packet of ramen – super quick!
Watch how to make it
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Chow Mein Ramen Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 200g/7oz chicken , sliced (thigh, breast)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 ramen or instant noodle cakes , discard seasoning (Note 1)
- 200g/7oz pre shedded Coleslaw mix , cabbage and carrot (Note 2)
- 3 green onion stems , cut into 5cm/2" lengths
- 1 heaped cup beansprouts
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
Chow Mein Sauce:
- 1.5 tbsp light soy sauce (Note 3)
- 1.5 tbsp Oyster Sauce (Note 4)
- 1 tbsp Chinese Cooking Wine or Mirin (Note 5)
- 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 6)
- 1 tsp white sugar (SKIP if using Mirin)
Instructions
- Mix Sauce in a bowl.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic, cook 10 seconds.
- Add chicken and cook until mostly changes from pink to white, then add Sauce.
- Cook for 1 minute, then add Coleslaw mix and white part of green onions.
- Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until cabbage wilts, then push everything to the side to make room for the ramen (see video & photos in post).
- Add water then squidge the ramen cakes in side by side.
- When water simmers, leave for 45 seconds. Flip, then leave for 30 seconds.
- Loosen noodles, add bean sprouts and green onion, then toss energetically for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until sauce reduces and coats noodles. (Note 7)
- Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
You know how you feel in those fancy chocolate shop? That’s how Dozer feels here – we’re in the warehouse of The Free Range Butcher where I bulk purchase offal for Dozer every few months.
I’ve been requested by a number of people to share Dozer’s diet. It’s in progress! I want to get it officially “signed off” by a specialist before going out officially with it. But for those who want a sneak peak of the post in progress, here it is. 🙂
Vi says
Can I use Charlie with this? If so, how much?
Nagi says
Hi Vi, yes you can – use 1/3 of a cup in place of the sauce ingredients – N x
Lesley says
We loved this and its going go be on the menu for a long time. Thanks Nagi
Holly says
Hi Nagi, I typically keep only a premium tamari soy sauce on hand (just soy beans and alcohol) and use that for everything where soy sauce is required. It’s flavourful and seems to work okay where low sodium soy sauce is called for so far (Although admittedly I do like things well seasoned) Do you think it’s essential to have low sodium option in the pantry?
Nagi says
Hi Holly, I don’t have any “low sodium” specific sauces. This post might help you though https://www.recipetineats.com/asian-market-grocery-store-shopping-list/ N x
Mel says
Wish I could send a picture!! So happy to be cooking a good noodle dish. Thanks Nagi!
Iris says
We absolutely loved this dish! The ramen noodles are great – we have never had them before!!!! The sauce was wonderful – I will double it next time! Thank you Nagi and Dozer!
Iris L. Gerosky says
We absolutely loved this dish! The ramen noodles are great – we have never had them before!!!! The sauce was wonderful – I will double it next time! Thank you Nagi and Dozer!
Jo-Anne Sander says
I absolutely love this recipe. So easy once I located sesame oil In our little town during covid-19, some ingredient items are challenging to find. This delicious recipe ROCKS! Thankyou!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Iris!! N x
Vi says
I love this recipe. So easy and gets some veggies into my kids!
Vlada says
How many grams are in one serving?
Nagi says
Hi Vlada, sorry I haven’t weighed the final cooked meal – but the whole recipe makes 2 serves. N x
MJ says
Awesome. Quick and Easy. Thank You.
Connie N says
I made this tonight. It was delicious. I will try the Hoisin next time (I like this flavor and it will be put it over the top). Another easy great recipe!
Betty says
I love Chinese food light food I am trying to lose weight
Cindy Weaver says
Loved the ease of the ramen recipe. When cooking for one, the easier the better thanks so much for sharing. 😋
Nicole Kenney says
Would this freeze well if I made a huge batch and then froze vacuum packed servings?
Thanks!
Mark Winslow says
Stuck at home and trying new recipes for me and the wife. This was an easy fix for Sunday lunch and will add to the meal rotation. Thanks for making this dummy proof! I also love the notes that goes along with it.
Nagi says
Thanks so much for the great feedback Mark! N x
Lori says
You’re the best love everything you suggest perfection doing these tonight perfect quarantine recipe
Nagi says
Thanks so much Lori ❤️
Monica says
I made this recipe today! Delicious!
Nagi says
Wahoo! That’s great Monica! N x
Lynn Behen says
Love your recipies! It would be helpful if you included serving size with your nutritional info. I have a carb counter in my household and it would make portioning easier. Chow Mein on the menu tonite!
Nagi says
Hi Lynn, the number of servings in the recipe is listed at the top of the recipe card ❤️
kevin says
I will try your recipe, Nagi, sounds delicious. But it’s Jamie Oliver not Jamie Olive.
Nagi says
Thanks for picking that up – small typo!
Racheal says
Made this week. Everyone loved it. Considering there are 8 of us, 5 of which are children, that is an accomplishment! Absolutely love that I stumbled across your site! We have tried a few other recipes as well, from both your site and your mom’s site. All have turned out delicious and easy. It has resulted in everyone getting personalized chopsticks for Christmas due to how often we are eating Asian cuisine. Also, the 3 teenage children have requested recipe books for their birthdays! Once again, THANK YOU from Missouri, USA.
Nagi says
Oh that’s lovely Racheal!
Kristine Bourdos says
This was awesome. Full of flavor. Family loved it. Will be added to my Favorites in Recipe Book!
Nagi says
Wahoo! Perfect Kristine!